Monthly Archives: September 2012

Continuing the tradition of ridiculous family outings, today we road-tripped to a llama farm. This is the sort of thing that happens when you leave me to make rash 3am Mother’s Day gift purchases on the internet. “Happy Mother’s Day, let’s have a three course meal next to a pen of spitting animals”.

It was a rather pleasant meal with the spitting animals, really. We wandered around and harassed the llamas, who responded with their trademark indifference. I think llamas are probably the hipsters of the animal world; they’re so unemotional and strange.

The llamas snubbed me, so I bonded with the Nubian goats instead. At least they appreciated me.

I also spent some quality time with the donkeys. In between hissing and ee-yor-ing, they nipped crackers out of my hands. Awwww.

We also got to meet the stud of the llama farm, referred to as “King of the Llamas”. Also known as “Elvis”, “Head Llama”, “Llama CEO”, or “The Dalai Llama”. He was all on his lonesome in a little field. Naturally, we took a ridiculous family photo. I think I might frame it.

Alas, I don’t own a llama-print frock, but if I did, I would have worn it so fiercely, I’d out-fashion the llamas themselves in their fleecy suits. I opted instead for my early 60s tartan frock, which you can read all about here if you feel so inclined.

Ah, so much llama love. If you want to experience it all for yourself, you can check it out here on Red Balloon. Or else I wish you sweet vintage llama dreams, until next time.

I think the Fifties Fair sent me into vintage hibernation for awhile. The day is so intensely aesthetically pleasing, it always seems to take some time to recover. I think this is why I didn’t end up making it to the Sydney Love Vintage fair on the weekend – a girl can only take so many novelty print swing frocks (“blasphemy”, I hear you all cry).

There were some fabulous photos taken on the day, but being a terribly lax blogger, I’m not responsible for any of these. So rather than post photos of the fair myself, I’ll just direct you to some picture-laden posts put up by some others in the blogosphere. Although if they’ll allow me the photo thievery, I’ll show you some of the ladies I met in my travels.

I had the pleasure of meeting Trish of Quiet Vintage Sewing at the fair, whose blog I’ve quietly stalked for awhile now. Her posts on the fair are here and here. You can spot my wildly-dressed friend Laurel in the second post too – she’ll be the one who looks exactly like me.

I also met the lovely Bex, who writes Subversive Lesbian Anarchic Femme (yay for vintage/queer politics crossovers). You can read her post on the fair here, featuring some excellent swing dancing action shots. As a side note, I’m also looking forward to witnessing more of Bex’s ensembles at Sydney Femme Guild events, which she organises – oh, the frocked up femmes.

I was officially introduced to Bec of Black Swan’s Pond at the fair, who I actually had a run-in with at swing dancing classes a month or two ago. Apart from just generally looking picturesque, Bec also played swing dancing partner matchmaker, and made sure I managed to lindy hop at the fair after all. She put up an exhaustive three posts on the fair on her blog: here, here and here. You can spot me in the second and third posts, plus Johnny and June are in there somewhere too. Here she is dancing with Amanda, also from my swing class:

I’ve been a-shimmying my Tuesday nights away in burlesque classes this past month. I think I’m addicted to saucy fan-shooshing. Never have I pouted more intensely.

’tis all courtesy of Love Rouge, a loverly lingerie boutique in Darlinghurst that, apart from stocking all manner of lacy delights, also dabbles in the art of burlesque. Although Love Rouge is staffed by platinum blonde burlesque extraordinaire Miss Anna Felactic, our classes have been led by the divine Miss Foxtrot India, and Miss Kelly Ann Doll. Under their guidance, I’ve learnt such important skills as “framing the leg”, and caressing my own arm like I’m its desperate lover.

Of course the most important part of all of this is the FASHION, brought to you this week by a series of ridiculous poses.